BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 536-537.


JOHN C. KEHRER, of Martin's Ferry, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany;
in 1831, the son of John Kehrer, who was a gardener and grape raiser,
by occupation. He died in 1853, and his wife 1851. Mr. Kehrer
received good educational advantages in Germany up to his
fourteenth year, when he was apprenticed for three years, to a
stone mason. Subsequently he followed his trade in that country two
years, as a journeyman, and then, in 1849, came to the United States. On
landing, he came directly to Wheeling, and followed his trade there until
1858. He then took a tour through the west, visiting all the large cities,
and on his return, crossed to Martin's Ferry, and in partnership with
others, purchased a tract of thirty-one acres, upon which he began the
culture of grapes. As soon as the vineyard was producing, they provided
a cellar, and under the firm name of Scheele & Kehrer, began the production
of wine. This was the first wine cellar in the valley, and the qualities
of the soil for wine production was not yet known. The experiment has,
however, under the skillful management of Mr. Kehrer, proved to be an entire
success, and the product of their vineyard finds a ready market in all the
cities of the land. The firm now has about fifteen acres of land devoted
to vineyard, and produces four to five thousand gallons of wine per year.
Mr. Kehrer is recognized as one of the most competent wine producers of
the valley, and as a citizen, he is highly esteemed. He is a member of the
German Lutheran church, has been a Mason since 1856, and is a republican.
He was married in 1851, to Matilda Cook, of Wheeling, and they have had
six children: Jeannette, Albert, Matilda, Emma, Lizzie and Clara, the two
latter being deceased.